crawford



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. CRAWFORD.

WAGON BED. No. 341,890. Patented Mey 18, 1886.

33% h/5 @Hof/maud N. PETERS, Phota-Lthugmpnfr. washmglen. l')y C.

(No ModeL) ZSheets-Sheet 2.

A. GRAWFGRD. WAGON BED.

No. 34L890. Patented May 8, 1386.

N, PETERS, PhulmLithug-mphsr, Washnzun. D. C.

Miren drames artnr rtree.,

ANDERSON GRAVFORD, OF CERES, VIRGINIA.

WGONMBED.

SPECEIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,890, dated M'ay 15.511883. Application tiled Dercrnber 16, 1885. Serial No. 185,850. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ANDERsoN CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United Statesresidin g at Ceres, in the county of Bland and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in W'agoaBeds, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in wagon-beds; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings,Figure l is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal central section. Fig-4 is a vertical transverse section.

A represents the runninggear of the wagon, having the usual holsters, B, provided with the standards C.

D represents the frame of the body, which consists of the side beams E, which rest on the bolster and bear against the standards, and cross-bars F F', which connect the said side beams at therfront and rear ends of the wagonbed. The cross-bars F are secured on the upper side of the side beams, and the crcssbars F' are secured on the lower sides thereof.

G represents longitudinal central bars, which connect the cross-bars F', and are located at the center of the bedframe, a narrow space being left between the said bars G. A eross bar, H, is secured on the under side of the beams E at the -center of the bed-frame, and are also secured to the bars G. The standards C extend up above the sides of thcside beams E for a suitable distance, as shown, and the said side beams' extend rearwardly beyond the rear cross-bars, F and F.

I represents a winch, which is journaled at the rear extended ends ofthe side beams, and is provided with crank-levers K and ratchet- Wheels L. Gravity-pawls M are pivoted to the side beams, and engage with the ratchetwheels, as shown.

At the front end of the bed-frame, tothe cross-bars F and F', is secured a vertical post or standard, N, which extends up for a suitable height, and is located at the center of the wagoubed. This standard is provided with serrated teeth or downwardly and outwardly projecting` pins N', as shown. 0n opposite sides of the standard N are secured shorter standards,0,and similar standaicls,0',are se cured to the rear cross-bars, F and F'.

P represents the side racks or lad ders,which are composed of the transverse bars P and the connecting longituc'linal bars l)2 and P, which latter are secured near the outer ends of the cross-bars. The ends of the bars P3 extend beyond the sides of the end crossbars, as shown in Fig. 2, while the bars P extend only to the outer sidesIv of the said cross-bars.

In order to apply the side racks to the wagon,the inner ends of the cross-bars thereof are inserted under the longitudinal cross-bars G, and the said cross-bars Il bear on the upper inner edges of the side beams G,thus supporting the racks in an inclined position, as shown at Fig. 4. Bolts R are passed through the end cross-bars of the rack and through the bars F and F', to secure the racks in position and enable them to be very readily removed.

When the racks are in position on the wagonbed, the latter is adapted for hauling hay,

straw, Ste., and in order to secure the hay or straw in placel on the wagon I provide alocking-pole,S, the front end of which is notched, as at S',and the rear end of which is connected by means of ropes S2 to the outer ends of the winch.

T represents a pair of linked rings, one of which ts in the notch in the front end of theV locking-pole, and the other slides upon the standard NV, and is caught by one of the pins N. The pole bears upon the upper side ot' the load,and by turning the winch the rear end ofthe poleis drawn downwardly,thereby lock ing the load securely on the frame,` and preventingI it from slipping thereon or falling oft'.

Vhen it is desired t-o haul grain or other articles which render a tight wagon-bed necessary, I discard the locking-pole and provide boards which fit in the spaces between the parts of the frame, as follows: Boards a till the spaces between the side beams E and the bars F and F', and are prevented from being forced outwardly by the standards O and O'. A long narrow board, b, tits between the bars G, and is supported upon the bars F', the bolsters, and the central cross-bar, and boards c IOO bear upon the cross-bars of the racks between the bars G and P2, tbe said boards c being notched,as at c,to receive the standards C. d represents end-gates, which t between theends of the side racks and the standards O and O and bear upon the cross-bars F. Endwise movement of these end-gates is prevented by reason of the extended ends of the bars P2. When thus provided,the wagon is adapted for hauling grain n bulk, and for other uses for which a tight wagon-box is necessary.

Having thus described my invention, I clailn- The combination of the Wagon-bed frame comprising the side beams E, the cross-bars, and the longitudinal bars G, and having the standards O O at its ends, with the side racks having the crossbars P' to bear under the bars G and rest upon the beams E,to support the side racks. in an inclined position, 2o and the end-gates secured between the ends of v the side "racks and tbe standards O and O', and resting transversely on the bed-frame, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 25 my own I have hereto affixed mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDERSON GR AWFOR D.

Witnesses:

J. G. KYLEY, JOHN B. WHITEHEAD. 

